6 Natural Solutions For Dog Anxiety

You know your dog better than anyone else. You know when she’s relaxed, when she’s bored, and when she’s happy …

… But can you also tell when she’s stressed out?

Dog anxiety is common. It can stop your dog from enjoying normal doggie activities … like going for a walk around the neighborhood. So it’s important to find a way to help her relax and have fun!

Do you know what to do to calm your dog when she’s anxious? I’m sharing below some great natural remedies you can try. They’ll help you avoid pharmaceutical meds that have some bad side effects.

But first, some background on dog anxiety in general.

Common Types Of Dog Anxiety

There are 2 types of dog anxiety, behavioral and situational.

Behavioral anxiety is when your dog has ongoing anxiety about something.

Separation anxiety is an example of behavioral anxiety. It’s the most common anxiety in dogs. Some experts estimate that about 14% of dogs suffer from it. These dogs are afraid of being at home alone or separated from you in any way.

There can be many causes of behavioral anxiety. Past trauma or abuse can cause your dog to react or act out.

Situational anxiety is when your dog is afraid of something specific, like storms or other loud noises, car rides, or going to the vet or groomer.

Note: Many dogs also suffer chronic fear or anxiety as a side effect of over-vaccination, especially with rabies. If you think this is your dog’s case, it’s best to consult a homeopathic vet to help treat her condition. Find one at theavh.org. Most will do phone consults.

Signs Of Dog Anxiety

Sometimes it’s easy to tell when your dog is anxious. Other times you may have to pay extra close attention.

These are some of the most common signs of dog anxiety:

Chewing or destructive behavior

Barking or crying

Restlessness, pacing

Excessive licking

Aggression

Loss of appetite, refusal to eat

Trembling or shaking

Excessive panting

What About Conventional Treatments?

If you go to a conventional vet, you’ll likely leave with a bottle of anti-anxiety medication. This includes meds like Valium, Xanax, ProZac, Paxil or Lorazepam. You’ve probably heard of these – many are human meds.

Most dogs have to take these drugs for several weeks before there’s a change. But that doesn’t mean the treatment stops after that.

Some dogs can eventually stop taking them, but others need life-long treatment.

And these drugs come with a long list of adverse side effects.

Some of them include:

Increased or decreased appetite

Lethargy and/or drowsiness

Affected learning and memory

Increased urination

Upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting

Increased aggression and anxiety

Damage to the liver

Seizures

Insomnia

Skin conditions

Some drugs can even result in withdrawal symptoms if used long-term and stopped abruptly.

Luckily there are lots of natural alternatives you can safely use to calm your dog and help her deal with her anxiety.

6 Natural Solutions For Dog Anxiety

CBD Oil

The use of CBD oil is exploding, especially among dog owners, because of its many benefits. It helps with pain management, seizures, even cancer …

The body has cannabinoid receptors throughout the central nervous system. Your dog’s body releases endocannabinoid chemicals on its own. These connect with the receptors that stimulate her natural ability to create serotonin. Serotonin is a natural mood stabilizer.

Research shows that CBD increases this ability. It interacts with the nervous system to soothe and calm anxiety.

CBD is great for situational anxiety because it works fairly quickly. For example, if a storm is coming or you’re heading out in the car, give her CBD oil 30-60 minutes before. This will help calm her down and keep her relaxed.

To give it to your dog, follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. You can add it to your dog’s food or place it straight in her mouth.

Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic remedies are effective because many are very specific. They’re also very safe.

Pinpoint what’s causing the fear and use one of these remedies for fast relief.

Aconite 30C – a good remedy to start with. It’s good for fear in general and can be given every fifteen minutes during a storm. Continue only until you see improvement. If you don’t see improvement, try another remedy.

Phosphorus 30C – good for all noise phobias. It can be given once or twice a day.

Pulsatilla nigicans 6C or 30C – a good remedy for separation anxiety.

Borax 6C – this remedy is specific for fears of thunderstorms and can be given twice a day.

Gelsemium 6C or 30C – this remedy is often used for separation anxiety. There may even be diarrhea or involuntary urination when under extreme stress with this dog.

To give these remedies, mix 3 of the little pellets in a glass of filtered water (try your best not to touch them with your hands). Mix them with a spoon and give your dog a few spoonfuls (or use a clean dropper to put some on her gums). If she’s really resistant to the spoon or dropper idea, you can also just put the pellets in her water bowl.

Start by giving three doses, 12 hours apart, then stop and wait for changes before dosing again.

Bach Flower Essences

About 75 years ago, English physician Edward Bach made an exciting discovery. He found that the essence of certain flowers helps restore emotional balance.

And that makes them perfect for relieving stress and calming down an anxious dog. (It’s also good for your own stress too).

These remedies are gentle, non-toxic and can’t be overdosed.

You can use individual essences that fit your dog’s specific fears or you can use Rescue Remedy, a pre-made blend. It’s available at most health stores.

Hydrosols

Essential oils are very powerful for dogs so hydrosols can be a much gentler option. Hydrosols are left over from the essential oil making process. They’re far less concentrated than the essential oils and considered safer for dogs.

Hydrosol Calming Spray

This calming spray from canine herbalist Rita Hogan is great for general anxiety. The chamomile and lavender hydrosols in it will soothe and calm your dog.

Ingredients

½ oz neroli (Citrus aurantium) hydrosol

½ oz blue chamomile (Matricaria recutita) hydrosol

5 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil

Mix the ingredients together in a spray bottle. Shake before using and mist your dog. Refrigerate for up to six months.

Dog anxiety is common, and if your dog suffers, no matter the cause, it can impact her quality of life (and your own). Thanks to these natural solutions, you can help her get some relief.

Emily Vey is a staff writer on the Dogs Naturally team. She’s constantly looking for the most up-to-date information to share with DNM readers and to help her own dog live the healthiest life possible. She lives in Ontario with her partner-in-crime Ryan and their husky Inuk. Together they enjoy hiking, swimming and all things outdoors!

The content on this website is not meant to replace veterinary advice. Please support the hard working holistic vets who make this information possible. To find a holistic or homeopathic vet near you or to find one who will do phone consultations, visit The Academy Of Veterinary Homeopathy

Copyright 2018 Dogs Naturally Magazine Inc.The information in this website is not intended to replace veterinary care. However the purpose of Dogs Naturally is to show you how important it is to work with a holistic vet.